Students hear war stories from veterans

Photo courtesy of PS 48 Students at PS 48 in Concord invited veterans to their school on Veterans Day to thank them for their service.
CONCORD - Long-time third-grade teacher Pat Mecca was a child when her brother, Richard Caliendo, went off to fight in the Korean War.

“We were really close,” she recalled, adding that the only thing tougher than seeing him off to war was watching him succumb to cancer six years ago.

“He always said Korea was the forgotten war and no one appreciated the sacrifices that were made,” she said. “And so I vowed I would teach my children every year about the veterans so that they would never forget.”

Mrs. Mecca has kept the promise.

Twice a year, in November and in May, she gets students at PS 48 together to pay special tribute to our nation’s veterans.

This year the school observed Veterans Day by hosting a breakfast for neighborhood veterans from the Patrick J. Dalessio Post, American Legion, as well as grandfathers and fathers from the school who serve or have served in the Armed Forces.

In preparation for the day, students did research in their social studies classes about wars American soldiers have fought in since the Revolution.

The morning of the breakfast, kids greeted their guests by singing patriotic songs, reading poems, and performing a skit about the American flag and how it served as a symbol of hope to our soldiers in time of war, from the Civil War through Iraq.

Veterans and students sat down and swapped stories with each other and bonded over breakfast.

Third-grader Gianna Ribecca told veterans she was grateful for their sacrifices, adding that should she win the Lotto someday, she would donate some of her winnings toward helping veterans. She said she hopes that what veterans have done for America will “make other people do more to support their country.”

“You guys are the very best,” Jonathan Zhao told veterans. He said he was “proud” of them for standing strong and fighting for our country.

His classmate, Jason Vosk, added that he wished more young people would appreciate and thank veterans.

On hand for the breakfast was Lee Covino, a Vietnam War veteran who serves as veterans’ advisor to Borough President James Molinaro. Covino presented students with a proclamation on behalf of the borough president.

In May, as they have done every year, PS 48 students, organized by Mrs. Mecca, will again team up with veterans to walk to the Veterans Memorial at the intersection of Narrows Road and Targee Street, where together they will lay a wreath to commemorate Memorial Day.

Diane Lore writes about schools and education for the Advance. Contact her at lore@siadvance.com. Look for her Chalk Talk column Thursdays during the school year in the Shore editions and on-line at SILive.com.